Athletic Drug Store

Athletic Drug Store, operating close to campus on West Street, provided school supplies, candies and fountain drinks to west Ames residents for nearly three decades. This photo from the late 1920s shows pharmacist George Nolan, his son, Lyle, and their canine companion. At this time, the store is owned by Lydia Knepper (later married Joe Swatosh). R. E. Sloan was the proprietor after Lydia.

Ames Daily Tribune-Times, September 15, 1933

WEST AMES BUSINESSES - Athletic Drug Store: 2816 West street. Mrs. Lydia Knepper, proprietor. G. R. Nolan, pharmacist. Store has been open at this location for the past 10 years. New stocks of school supplies have just been received.

This segment of a 1920 Sanborn Insurance map highlights the location of the Athletic Drug Store. The location has the address 2818 West Street on this map. Later maps show the address as 2816/2818 West Street. As the area transitioned from homes to businesses, the address changed to reflect the increased density of construction. Today the address of the former Athletic Drug Store site is 2814 West Street.

West Street Grocery (the former Peyton's Meat Market, and later the site of Dugan's Deli) is listed on this 1920 Sanborn Insurance map portion as 2840 West Street. Later it would be known as 2902 West Street, and is assigned the current address of 2900 West Street. Learn more about the West Street Grocery.